Given the two leads, support, and director this, certainly viewed so long after the initial release, is disappointing. Mitchum and Greer have no problem working together and generating chemistry but that to one side this is a pale comparison with Build My Gallows High. On a superficial level it's merely a pursuit race south of the border with Mitchum and Greer chasing Patrick Knowles, Bendix chasing all three and silent star Ramon Navarro watching from the sidelines. As noted Mitchum and Greer are good value but Bogie, Tracy, Cagney and Robinson would be hard put to get this to fly. If anything it's a reminder of how Greer, like Marie Windsor, cornered the market in femmes fatale and how sorely missed both are.

Robert Mitchum reunites with his Out of the Past co-star, Jane Greer, as the two chase thief Patric Knowles through Mexico. While Mitchum's busy chasing Knowles, William Bendix is chasing Mitchum. Often cited as a film noir, I can't really see that at all. Sometimes it seems as though every movie involving crime from the early '40s through the mid '50s is labeled as film noir. Personally I don't go along with that. Film noir to me is a very specific genre with a certain kind of style. The Big Steal is too light and upbeat to be noir. In fact, it's much more of a romantic comedy than a noir crime drama. Whatever you want to call it, I'm sure you will enjoy it. The cast is great, the script is fun, the pace is smooth. The short runtime helps, too. Apparently Lizabeth Scott was originally supposed to play Jane Greer's role. I'm very happy that didn't happen as Scott is one of my least favorite actresses.

The Big Steal is directed by Don Siegel and adapted by Gerald Drayson Adams & Daniel Mainwaring from the short story "The Road to Carmichael's" written by Richard Wormser. It stars Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, William Bendix, Patric Knowles & Ramon Novarro. Music is by Leigh Harline and the cinematographer is Harry J. Wild.U.S. Army Lieutenant Duke Halliday (Mitchum) is robbed of a $300,000 payroll and pursues the man responsible into Mexico. But on his tail is Captain Vincent Blake (Bendix), who suspects him of being behind the robbery himself. Meeting up with Joan Graham (Greer), it turns out that she too has an agenda with the man Duke is after. Originally suspicious of each other, the duo form an uneasy alliance in the hope of achieving their aims.At just 71 minutes in length The Big Steal is a briskly put together movie, one that is sharply scripted, acted accordingly and directed without fuss or filler. Lensed on location in and around Mexico City to add authenticity, it gets straight into its plot from the get go. This at first gives a slight feeling of confusion, but it's not before long when the narrative pulls together and the audience can sit back and lap up the various twists, turns and choice dialogue exchanges. More comedy crime caper than film noir stinger, The Big Steal is an enjoyable enough experience. 6.5/10

In Mexico, a thief is chased by a couple, who in turn are chased by an Army captain. A couple of years earlier, Mitchum and Greer starred in "Out of the Past," a muddled film that has inexplicably gained a reputation as one of the best Film Noirs ever. This little gem is better, a tightly scripted chase film that moves at a fast pace. This was the first success for Siegel, who went on to become one of the most reliable directors of action films. There is an exciting car chase scene. The dialog is snappy and the film is simply fun to watch. It's a shame that Greer never made it big because she certainly had the star qualities - the looks, the acting skills, and the allure.